AG SUBODH KANTAK’S CASE AGAINST AIRES: HEARING ON 7th OCT

PANJIM: The civil defamation case filed by Goa’s controversial Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak against Adv. Aires Rodrigues will come up for hearing on 7th October at 10 am before Panaji Civil Judge Senior Division Mr. Edgar Fernandes.

The Court has earlier allowed the application filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues to expedite the proceedings of the case, while overruling the objections of Subodh Kantak’s lawyer that there was no provision in law to expedite the proceedings.

AG Subodh Kantak

Mr. Subodh Kantak had filed a civil and a criminal defamation case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues.

Judge Mr. Edgar Fernandes as Judicial Magistrate First Class on 17th March this year dismissed the criminal defamation case that was filed by Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak against Adv. Aires Rodrigues after Subodh Kantak remained absent for his cross examination.

It may be recalled that JMFC Edgar Fernandes had on two occasions penalized AG Subodh Kantak and had directed him to pay Adv. Rodrigues Rs 500 for not being present in court. On the third occasion the JMFC directed Subodh Kantak to pay Adv. Rodrigues Rs 1000 for again being absent while dismissing Mr. Kantak’s case.

The filing of the defamation case brought no relief to the Advocate General, as Mr. Subodh Kantak though the complainant in the defamation case had to face a grilling and acrimonious cross-examination by Adv. Aires Rodrigues.

Mr. Subodh Kantak who had been accused by Adv. Aires Rodrigues of being the country’s highest paid Advocate General faced perhaps the longest cross examination ever with Adv. Rodrigues intensely quizzing Mr. Subodh Kantak on his character, conduct and competency as Advocate General. The cross examination of the Advocate General which started on 31st October 2008 had continued for 13 sessions with the Advocate General cross examined for over 26 hours.

Subodh Kantak will now have to face another round of cross examination in the Civil suit filed by him against Adv. Aires Rodrigues unless he chooses to remain absent in the civil suit too.

After Adv. Aires Rodrigues highlighted the exorbitant fees being paid to the Advocate General of Goa, Mr. Subodh Kantak initiated two defamation proceedings against Adv. Rodrigues and has sought Rs 15 crores by way of compensation from Adv. Rodrigues which he has vowed to use for charitable causes like old age homes, orphanages and towards the welfare of animals.